U.S. patent number 3,931,851 [Application Number 05/438,685] was granted by the patent office on 1976-01-13 for liquid aquifer energy storage method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to William D. Morse, Jr.. Invention is credited to Richard R. Davison, William B. Harris.
United States Patent |
3,931,851 |
Harris , et al. |
January 13, 1976 |
Liquid aquifer energy storage method
Abstract
A liquid aquifer energy storage method by which hot water is
collected and stored in underground aquifers during the summer
months and made available for heating during winter months. The
liquid aquifer energy storage method also allows for the storage of
cold water during the winter months for use in cooling during the
summer months. The liquid aquifer energy storage method includes
heating water and hot and warm zones within the aquifer or aquifers
for storage of hot and warm water, respectively. Additionally, the
method includes cooling water and cold and cool zones in the
aquifer or aquifers for storage of cold and cool water.
Inventors: |
Harris; William B. (Bryan,
TX), Davison; Richard R. (Bryan, TX) |
Assignee: |
Morse, Jr.; William D.
(Houston, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
26263876 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/438,685 |
Filed: |
February 1, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/48.2;
126/567; 165/45; 166/302; 165/236; 62/260; 126/910; 166/263;
237/1R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24V
50/00 (20180501); F28D 20/0052 (20130101); F24D
11/00 (20130101); F24F 5/0046 (20130101); F25B
23/00 (20130101); Y02B 10/40 (20130101); Y02B
10/24 (20130101); F24F 2005/0053 (20130101); Y02E
60/14 (20130101); Y02B 10/20 (20130101); Y10S
126/91 (20130101); Y02E 60/142 (20130101); Y02E
70/30 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24D
11/00 (20060101); F28D 20/00 (20060101); F24J
3/00 (20060101); F24J 3/06 (20060101); F24F
5/00 (20060101); F25B 23/00 (20060101); F24D
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;165/2,45,18 ;126/271
;62/260 ;166/52,263,302,303 ;237/1A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Environmental Science and Technology, June, 1973, pp. 512-516,
Meyer and Todd..
|
Primary Examiner: Davis, Jr.; Albert W.
Assistant Examiner: O'Connor; Daniel J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fulbright & Jaworski
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A liquid aquifer energy storage method for collecting and
storing heat in the form of heated water during warm periods for
use during cold periods including
a. heating the water,
b. passing the hot water to a first portion of an aquifer for
storage of said water until needed,
c. removing the hot water from the first portion of the aquifer as
required,
d. removing heat from the water, thereby rendering the water warm,
and
e. passing the warm water to a second portion of the aquifer.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (e) the water is sent to a
second aquifer for storage.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein prior to step (e) the warm water
is partially reheated.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the reheated water may be recycled
directly to step (d).
5. The method of claim 2 wherein the water in step (a) is heated by
a solar heater.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein prior to step (e) the warm water
is partially reheated.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the reheated water may be recycled
directly to step (d).
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the water in step (a) is heated by
a solar heater.
9. A liquid aquifer energy storage method for collecting and
storing of cold during cool periods for use during warm periods
including
a. cooling the water,
b. passing the cold water to an aquifer for storage of said water
until needed,
c. removing the cold water from the aquifer as required,
d. removing cold from the water, thereby rendering the water cool,
and
e. returning the cool water to a second aquifer for storage.
10. A liquid aquifer energy storage method for collecting and
storing of cold in the form of cold water during cool periods for
use during warm periods including
a. cooling the water,
b. passing the cold water to a first portion of an aquifer for
storage of said water until needed,
c. removing the cold water from the aquifer as required,
d. removing cold from the water, thereby rendering the water cool,
and
e. passing the cool water to a second portion of the aquifer.
11. A liquid aquifer energy storage method for collecting and
storing of heat in the form of heated water during warm periods for
use during cool periods and of cold in the form of cold water
during cool periods for use during warm periods including
a. heating the water,
b. passing the hot water to a first aquifer for storage of said
water until needed,
c. removing the hot water from the aquifer as required,
d. removing heat from the water, thereby rendering the water
warm,
e. passing the warm water to a second aquifer,
f. cooling the water,
g. passing the cold water to a third aquifer for storage of said
water until needed,
h. removing the cold water from the aquifer as required,
i. removing cold from the water, thereby rendering the water cool,
and
j. passing the cool water to a fourth aquifer.
12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the first and second aquifers
are combined, i.e., the hot water passing to a first portion of
such aquifer for storage of said water while the warm water passes
to a second portion of such aquifer for storage of said water, and
wherein the third and fourth aquifers are combined, i.e., the cold
water passing to a first portion of such aquifer for storage of
said water while the cool water passes to a second portion of such
aquifer for storage of said water.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the water in step (a) is heated
by a solar heater.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the water in step (a) is heated
by a solar heater.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of solar energy to help solve the world's present energy
crisis is appealing. There is a large quantity of such energy which
is available for use without any accompanying adverse environmental
impact. However, solar energy is diffuse, i.e., it is spread over a
wide area and the amount of energy available per square foot is not
very large. Additionally, if the solar energy is to be used
effectively, it must be received while the sun is shining and
stored for use on cloudy days and at nighttime.
The storage of heat from solar energy has presented difficulties in
the past. Various proposals have been advanced including hot water
which is stored in insulated tanks, molten salts which deliver
their heat of fusion while crystallizing, and basements full of hot
rocks which are warmed during the day for use in warming the air
during the night. The general idea has centered around the
provision of storage sufficient for a daily or a weekly cycle to
meet the needs for one house or building. However, storage in this
manner has been found to be expensive. When heat is most needed,
i.e., winter, the least amount of energy is received from the sun.
The same type of situation exists with respect to cooling efforts.
When cooling is most needed, i.e., summer, the least amount of
sources for coolness is available.
In addition to single-building energy requirements, the need exists
for a year-round solar heating and cooling system for use by a
city, town or other large-scale energy consumer. Little attention
has been directed to such large-scale needs, the satisfaction of
which offers significant potential not heretofore appreciated.
Applicant presently is aware of existing patents in the field of
the art, including U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,206 (Harris, et al., 1971);
U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,629 (Hervey, 1967); U.S. Pat. No. 2,693,939
(Marchant, et al., 1954); U.S. Pat. No. 2,780,415 (Gay, 1957); U.S.
Pat. No. 2,584,573 (Gay, 1952); U.S. Pat. No. 2,007,406 (Miller,
1935); U.S. Pat. No. 2,637,531 (Davidson, 1953); U.S. Pat. No.
3,262,493 (Hervey, 1966); and the reeferences cited therein.
Applicant also is aware of the article by Charles F. Meyer and
David K. Todd, entitled "Conserving Energy With Heat Storage
Wells", in 7 Environmental Science & Technology 512 (1973).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The method of the present invention generally provides steps for
collecting and storing hot and cold water in underground aquifers
during summer and winter months, respectively, and making the same
available for heating during winter months and cooling during
summer months, respectively. The method includes heating or cooling
water, passing the hot or cold water to an aquifer for storage,
removing the hot or cold water from the aquifer as required,
removing heat or cold from the water, and returing the warm or cool
water to an aquifer.
The term "aquifer" is used herein in its commonly accepted sense,
to-wit, a water-bearing bed or stratum of permeable rock, sand, or
gravel capable of yielding considerable quantities of water to
wells or springs.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a
liquid aquifer energy storage method for collecting and storing
heat during the summer for use during the winter which includes
heating water, passing the hot water to an aquifer for storage,
removing the hot water from the aquifer as required, removing heat
from the water, and returning the warm water to an aquifer.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of steps
for partially reheating previously-used warm water prior to storage
in the aquifer for warm water.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a
liquid aquifer energy storage method for collecting and storing
cold during the winter for use during the summer which includes
cooling water, passing the cold water to an aquifer for storage,
removing the cold water from the aquifer as required, removing cold
from the water, and returning the cool water to an aquifer.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a
combined liquid aquifer energy storage method for collecting and
storing heat and cold during the summer and winter, respectively,
for use during the winter and summer, respectively.
Still other and further objects, features and advantages will be
apparent from the following description of a presently preferred
embodiment of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure
and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings forming a part of the disclosure herein, like
character references designate like parts throughout the several
views, wherein,
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a liquid aquifer energy storage
method for collecting and storing cold during the winter for use
during the summer which shows one aquifer that includes portions
for the storage of cold and cool water, and
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a liquid aquifer energy storage
method for collecting and storing heat during the summer for use
during the winter which shows one aquifer that includes portions
for the storage of hot and warm water and indicates that the water
may be partially reheated prior to storage in the warm water
section.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention provides a method which permits relatively
low-cost heating and cooling storage on an annual basis, whereas
prior efforts have been directed to the general concept of
providing heating or cooling storage sufficient for a daily or
weekly cycle to meet the needs of one house or building. In
addition to providing heating or cooling storage on an annual
basis, the efficiency of the present invention generally increases
as the size of the project increases. Therefore, the present
invention is directed toward use on a large-scale basis.
The present invention involves a method by which ambient energy
collected from the sun or rejected to the atmosphere can be stored
in large quantities and made available for heating and cooling when
needed. This is accomplished by coupling a heat
collection-rejection system with storage of the energy in the form
of hot or cold water in an underground aquifer.
Hot water produced by a solar heater or cold water from a cooling
pond is pumped into an underground porous formation. The hot or
cold water which is pumped into the formation displaces any water
which already exists in the formation until a large hot or cold
zone is created. The first time this is done, a significant
quantity of heat or cold will be used to change the temperature of
the rock formation. In subsequent cycles, the amount of heat or
cold lost to the heating or cooling of the surrounding core rock
will be reduced significantly. In most instances, the operation of
the system will require two zones in the water-bearing formations
for both the heating and cooling portions of the system as will be
discussed below.
Referring to FIG. 1, the operation of the cooling cycle will be
considered. During the winter season, cold water is produced in a
cooling pond, spray pond, cooling tower, etc. 1, by contact with
the cold air as well as by nocturnal radiation. As the cold water
is produced, it is pumped into the cold zone 2 through a pipeline
3. In the summer, as cooling is required, the cold water is
withdrawn and distributed to the houses and buildings 4 in
pipelines 5, much as city water is presently delivered, except that
the pipelines 5 are insulated for protection from heat gain. Within
the buildings 4, the cold water flows through suitable heat
exchangers (as may be selected by those skilled in the art) so that
the building air is cooled and the water is warmed. If the water is
warmed to a temperature which is still below the normal formation
temperature, it may be delivered to the cool zone 6 for storage by
means of pipelines 7. When the temperature of the water is being
lowered during the winter, the water may be withdrawn from the cool
zone 6, pumped to the chilling area, pond, etc. 1, by means of
pipeline 8 and finally pumped into the cold zone 2.
In the present invention, no net amount of water is withdrawn from
the formation except for that which is evaporated during winter
cooling. Even if the water is salty, or otherwise contaminated, it
may be used since all of the water is returned to the
formation.
If the system is located near a large body of water, such as a
lake, that reaches temperatures in the winter months which are
below the temperature to which the water is to be lowered, the
water may be removed from the body of water during the winter and
stored in the underground cold zone 2 until summer. After being
withdrawn and used for cooling, the water can be returned to the
large body of water. Such procedure eliminates the need for a cool
zone 6, reduces pumping requirements and eliminates the capital
investment required for providing a cooling pond or similar
equipment.
The hot water system, as shown in FIG. 2, is similar in operation
to the cold water system. The hot and cold water may be distributed
to the houses and buildings by either the same or parallel water
distribution systems.
During the summer, hot water is produced by a solar heater 10 and
pumped into the hot zone 11 of an aquifer by means of a pipeline
12. It is withdrawn in the winter and circulated through pipes 13
to buildings and houses 14 in which it is sent through a suitable
heat exchange device for heat exchange with air of the building or
house 14 and the water itself is cooled. The resulting warm water
is returned to the warm zone 15 by means of pipeline 16, or if
solar conditions are good, the warm water may be sent to the heater
10 by means of pipeline 17 for partially reheating before being
returned to the warm zone 15 by means of pipeline 18. On sunny
days, the water might be sufficiently reheated to recycle directly
by piping 19 to the buildings 14 rather than using stored hot
water. During the summer, the water in the warm zone 15 is sent, by
means of pipeline 20, to the heater 10 for reheating and then is
pumped into the hot zone 11. As in the case of the cooling system,
no net withdrawal of water results in the heating system except for
that which may be evaporated during summer heating.
The importance of having two zones of stored water for both heating
and cooling should be emphasized. First, considering the zones
associated with the heating system, the warm water which is
returned to the aquifer probably is hotter than normal aquifer
water. Thus, when the water is withdrawn for reheating, only the
heat actually used for space heating in buildings and the like must
be replaced.
A second important reason for having two zones of water is the fact
that the cyclic flow of water into and out of each zone assures
that each zone is surrounded by a partially heated, or cooled,
buffer zone. This cyclic flow of water exchanges heat with the rock
as it flows inward and also as it flows outward so that, after the
first cycle, there is no net heat loss to the rock in the inner
volume. Finally, the existence of the buffer zone reduces heat loss
from or to the inner volume.
As indicated previously, the present invention is intended to be
used on a large-scale basis. As one increases the size of a heated
body, the stored heat varies with the volume while the loss varies
with the outer area. The former is proportional to the diameter
cubed, while the latter is proportional to the diameter squared.
Such would be an exact description if the volume and the
surroundings were both of uniform temperatures and if the volume
were spherical. However, temperature gradients may exist which
reduce the amount of heat loss.
In effect, the invention can be a local utility, adaptable to new
developments, townhouses, apartment complexes, or even large
cities. Centralized distribution of hot and chilled water in
underground pipes already is well established for college campuses
and similar complexes. If only 5 gallons per minute (3/4-inch
pipeline) is delivered to each house, as much as 120,000 Btu per
hour can be available for each house. This amount of heat is
adequately sufficient for a very large home. On the other hand, 5
gallons per minute of cold water potentially can furnish 5 tons of
refrigeration per hour.
The system does require a suitable aquifer for storage. However,
geological indications are that such aquifers lie beneath most
areas of the country.
In summary, the method of the present invention generally provides
steps for collecting and storing hot and cold water in underground
aquifers during summer and winter months, respectively, and making
the same available for heating during winter months and cooling
during summer months, respectively. The method includes heating or
cooling water, passing the hot or cold water to an aquifer for
storage, removing the hot or cold water from the aquifer as
required, removing heat or cold from the water, and returning the
warm or cool water to an aquifer.
The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the
objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as
others therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the
invention has been given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous
changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *